21 NCAC 10 .0213. CERTIFICATION OF CLINICAL ASSISTANTS

(a)  Classification of Applicants. The Board hereby establishes the following categories of applicants for clinical assistant competency certification. Different certification requirements apply to each category.

(1)           Grandfathered applicants.  A "grandfathered applicant" is an applicant who is currently employed as a clinical assistant, who has been trained by the applicant's employing physician to perform the duties of a clinical assistant as defined in G.S. 90-143.4(a), and who shall have amassed at least 500 working hours in the capacity of a clinical assistant as of the effective date of this Rule. (Note: this category is temporary; the opportunity to be grandfathered shall expire 120 days after the effective date of this Rule.)

(2)           Reciprocity applicants. A "reciprocity applicant" is an applicant who is currently certified or registered as a clinical assistant in another state whose requirements for certification or registration are substantially similar to or more stringent than the requirements for certification in North Carolina.

(3)           New applicants. A "new applicant" is any applicant who is not a grandfathered applicant or a reciprocity applicant.

(b)  Requirements for Certification. Every applicant, regardless of classification, shall complete an application form provided by the Board (available at www.ncchiroboard.com) and submit evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant is at least 18 years of age, a high school graduate or the equivalent, and possessed of good moral character. A photocopy of the applicant's birth certificate, driver's license or government-issued identification card shall constitute prima facie evidence of the applicant's age. A photocopy of the applicant's high school diploma, transcript or general equivalency diploma (G.E.D.) shall constitute prima facie evidence of the applicant's graduation from high school.  An affidavit attesting to good moral character and signed by a chiropractic physician or other responsible party who knows the applicant and is not related to the applicant shall constitute prima facie evidence of the applicant's good moral character. Every applicant, regardless of classification, shall pay to the Board an initial certification fee in the amount of twenty dollars ($20.00). In addition to the foregoing general requirements, an applicant shall satisfy the requirements for the applicant’s individual category, as follows:

(1)           Grandfathered Applicants. A grandfathered applicant shall submit, on a form provided by the Board (available at www.ncchiroboard.com), an attestation signed by the applicant's employing physician confirming that the applicant is currently employed as a clinical assistant, has received sufficient on-the-job training, in the judgment of the employer, to perform the duties of a clinical assistant, and has amassed at least 500 hours of work experience in the capacity of a clinical assistant as of the effective date of this Rule. In addition, a grandfathered applicant shall take and pass a refresher proficiency examination administered by or under the authority of the Board, as described in Paragraph (d) of this Rule. (Note: grandfathered applications shall only be accepted for 120 days after the effective date of this Rule.)

(2)           Reciprocity Applicants. A reciprocity applicant shall submit a copy of the applicant's current certification or registration as a clinical assistant in a state with which North Carolina reciprocates and shall also submit written confirmation from the state's certifying authority or registrar that the applicant is in good standing in said state.

(3)           New Applicants. A new applicant shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has completed an approved clinical assistant education program as described in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. A certificate of completion filed with the Board by the program sponsor shall constitute prima facie evidence that the applicant has obtained the required education. A new applicant shall also take and pass the standard proficiency examination administered by or under the authority of the Board, as described in Paragraph (d) of this Rule.

(c)  Education Programs. In order to be approved by the Board, a clinical assistant education program for new applicants shall be at least 24 hours in length, of which at least six hours shall be in-person didactic training with an instructor or instructors who, based on education and experience, are deemed competent by the Board to teach the portion of the curriculum they have been assigned. Credit for online coursework shall not exceed 18 hours, and all online coursework shall precede didactic training. At a minimum, the education program shall provide sufficient instruction in the five subjects set forth in G.S. 90-143.4(c) to enable its graduates to satisfy all applicable standards of care. To obtain approval of an education program, the program sponsor shall submit to the Board, at least 30 days prior to the proposed starting date, all instructional materials to be used in the program, including a syllabus of the didactic training, and a curriculum vitae for each instructor.

(d)  Examinations. The refresher proficiency examination shall emphasize the practical skills possessed by grandfathered applicants and shall be available online. The standard proficiency examination for new applicants shall assess both academic knowledge and practical skills acquired through education programs and shall be administered in person at least four times per year on the fourth Saturday in January, April, July and October. In its discretion, the Board may authorize additional testing sessions based on the number of applications received. (Note: the refresher proficiency examination for grandfathered applicants shall be discontinued 120 days after the effective date of this Rule.)

(e)  Certificate Expiration and Renewal. Unless renewed, a certificate of competency shall expire on June 30^th of the second year following the year in which it was issued. A certificate holder seeking to renew shall complete a renewal application form provided by the Board (available at www.ncchiroboard.com) and shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has completed six hours of Board-approved continuing education. A certificate of attendance filed with the Board by the program sponsor shall constitute prima facie evidence that the applicant has completed the number of hours recited in the certificate.  The applicant shall pay to the Board a renewal fee in the amount of ten dollars ($10.00).

(f)  Lapsed Certificates. If a certificate of competency has lapsed due to non-renewal and the lapse does not exceed 12 months, the certificate holder may obtain reinstatement by making up the accrued deficiency in continuing education. If the lapse is greater than 12 months, no make-up continuing education shall be required, but the certificate holder shall re-take and pass the standard proficiency examination for new applicants. Regardless of the length of lapse, a certificate holder seeking reinstatement shall pay to the Board a renewal fee in the amount of ten dollars ($10.00).

(g)  Exemptions. Graduates of accredited chiropractic colleges and students enrolled in accredited chiropractic colleges who are serving college-sponsored preceptorships in North Carolina are deemed by the Board to have satisfied all requirements imposed by this Rule and are declared competent to perform the duties of a clinical assistant. Any person who qualifies for exemption and who works as a clinical assistant in this state for more than 120 days shall submit an application form to the Board asserting exempt status (form available at www.ncchiroboard.com) but shall not be required to submit a certification fee.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-142; 90-143.4;

Eff. July 1, 2014.